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Knox in the News — 117 Years Ago

The Digital History Project this month republishes an article first printed in 1895 by a French visitor to Knox, Madame Therese Bentzon: “We have yet to become acquainted with co-educational colleges… Perhaps the story of a week or two spent at [Knox] college of Galesburg, will give my readers the best idea of what co-education, in its most interesting phases, may be…

“I was present at a Latin class conducted by a young woman with an expressive and resolute face, who seemed to exercise great power over her pupils. There were grouped about her almost as many boys as girls. Although no rule requires it, the two sexes are separate, and occupy different sides of the room. In general the girls are more advanced in their knowledge… Many other colleges are founded upon the same basis as Knox, and this proves an uprightness of soul, fresh and robust virtues, to which it has seemed to me that the more Europeanized America of the East does not give sufficient justice…” Read more…